Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-09-23
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TER.
OLYMPIA, FRIDAY EVENING, SEPT. Is, 1857.
What's in a Name!

What's in a Name!
1t seems that the question Of a name
for the new State soon to be formed
out of Washington Territory, is one
that engages much attention, and is
likewise exceedingly difficult to an
swer. Probably there is no detail in
cident to admission that will meet |
with more varied and conflicting opin-
ions than the mere matter of name. |
Our article, last week, as We intended |
it should, has caused considerable |
comment, and the name suggested-|
Columbiana-fnds many ready and
earnest advocates.
There are, however, some very con-
servative people who oppose the
change, among whom is an esteemed
friend at Walla Walla, whose letter is
10 terse and to the point that We can
not refrain from giving it publicity:
DEAR Friend MURPHY:
Do not, implore you. join the Come
lately icon0clasts, that are running about
the land and smashing names that have
81 long been familiar to us: What is the
matter with Washington? Is it likely
that q letter addressed to Olympia, WASH,
will be more apt to 60 astray than it
would be under present address? It is
bad enough to have an attempt made to
change the name of grand old Rainier"
roughinG it in palace cars across the
plains. No sir. let the name stand as the
Rrandest o: all monuments to the immor-
Your friend,
II. M. CHASE.
1t must be confessed that remon-
STRANGE from such old-time citizens as
the writer of the above, rather dampens
our ardor for a name that we had
fondly, and; probably conceitedly, i'm
agined would remove all occasion for
dispute; but he must admit that mis-
direction of letters is the least of the
objections that can be urged against a
retention of the present name. 1t is
in ordinary conversation that the term
will fail to convey a definite meaning,
without the use of other qualifying
words. "I'm going to Washington"
when used by a traveller, would neces-
state the use of =" State of" as a prefix,
or city" as a suffix, unless his inter-
lOcutor carefully noted the direction
in which his nose was pointed. Be-
sides Washington's fame is already am
ply perpetuated in the memories of
the heart, to say nothing of the Hottest
shaft, the grandest city, and the thou
sands of counties and post-ofiices
which bear his name.
An iconoclast, who cannot even he
classed as Come-lately, handles this
subject without gloves in September
Forum the article being entitled
"American Geographical Names" and
. the writing appearing over the sugges-
Give name Of Bishop Coke. Here is q
quotation:
Probably the worst of our follies, on
practical grounds. is the application Of
WashinRtcn" to an enormous Territory
soon to be admitted as State. One would
think the final ton" sufficiently indica-
tive Of . town or city to be left to tho grand
use It 20 we'll subseryes in the name of
the national capital. But no; after pep
pering the maps with this noble narnc,
snd making it q bye-word in its senseless
recurrence. always. everywhere. and ad
naussam. for mountains, hills, wales, vii
lagos. country corners, and favOrite rae
Ing stations. it must now be pulled over.
like . coverlet. and spread over the
II watered by the Wallawalla." from
which "Wallowla" might be not unhap-
PLY framed. though scores Of even more
Oeautiful ana lar more appropriate names
have been left to the region as heritage
~ the vanishing tribes that once had It
admit State under the name of " Wash
tnGton." for the plain reason that It must
Introduce very serious confusion for post
masters. railways, expressmen. trades
men-in short, for individuals in every
walk Of life.
Leaving our good friend Chase and
Bishop Coke to reconcile their differ
ences - best they can, we proceed to
consider what the Tacoma Ledger has
to ray on the subject, in its comments
and criticisms on our article of last
week. 1t urges in behalf Of :" Tacoma
that the objection to city and State
bearing the same name is not well
taken, and cites the Empire city and
State as an example where, it alleges
no confusion arises. We beg to diffel
with our critic. "York State" in tn,
East, is the common appellation Of tn,
larger subdivision and Getty" is in
variably used when the metropolis j
designated. 1t is the necessity for ex
act identification that has familiarize,
people with the custom Of looping Of
one-half Of the name Of the State t
add another word that gives it distinc
tive meaning, and that compels every
body to supplement the word " city
whenever they wish to convey the ide
that it, and not the State, is the sui
JOSt Va ACACICuCCs HI tuC IdCc VI SuC
evidence as this, it is folly to insist tina
Tacoma, or any other term, can b
made to do double duty in the manne
proposed.
The Ledger, with remarkable shrew.
ness and it must be admitted tho
ough knowledge of the hereditary cha
acteristic of mankind, has discovered
new and beautiful meaning for IL
word Tacoma. 1t says that accordir
to Indian tradition it means Nou
ishing Breast, and from its great 81
ciers thirteen streams, milky-whit
course their nourishing way throus
valleys of pastoral loneliness, to ming
with the blue deep of Puget Sound
The idea, it must be admitted, is OF
that sways alike the mind of infan,
and age. but the smile loses its fore
when the main characteristics of Il